Game apparatus.



VR. W. MANSPIELD.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 27, 1906.

Patented Aug. 6,1912.

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RICHARD W. YIVIANSFIELD, OF NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT.

GAME APPARATUS.

Application led August 27, 1906. Serial No. 332,100.

useful Improvements in Game Apparatus,

` of which the following is a full, clear, and

exact description. p f This invention relates to improvements in game apparatus, and particularly of the type covered by my Patent No. 779,229, dated January 3, 1905, and my Patent #830,514 dated sepan, 1906.

One object is to provide a board facilitating different plays, and a second objectl is to provide a set of cubical lettered pieces by which the interest in competition may be increased. The new yboard surfaceA is so divided or arrangedthat particularly interesting plays are possible, such as block ades, pursuits,` refuge and capture. The new disposition of letters on the blocks increases the chances of spelling words. An additional lettered block is preferably provided for use by older people and advanced players.

. Figure l shows the outline of the board,4

pictures and ornamentation being omitted. Fig. 2 shows the opposite sides of the five lettered blocks or pieces which are preferably used for determining the plays. Fig. 3

shows ,four men, counters or scholars for moving on the board. Four are preferably provided in each of four colors, designs or figures. Fig. 4 shows the opposite sides of an eXtra or additionall block or piece. Piece numbered 1 bears the letters A-I-F-G lL-R. Piece 2 has letters 'E-O-III- lP--`V. Piece 3 has letters I-Y-C--M- X-Z Piece 4 has letters A-U--B-'Q,.- S-T. Piece 5 has letters E-U-'-D-K- N-W. Piece 6 has eXtra consonants.

The schoolhouse designation 7 in the center lis surrounded by a yard 8 divided into spaces, preferably a double row, and at intervals-are safety spaces or steps'such as 9*99-9. In the cornersl also areJ safety ignored or omitted, so that the `players Wllf,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 6, MM2.

pass by a simple move from a yard to a home, and vice versa.

The following is a part of the description, together with illustration of the board which was entered according to act. of Congress, in the year 1906 by me, RICHARD W. 'MANsFIELD-, in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, under the title Spelling Bee at the School of Nathan Hale:

The game was developed and improved to realize the fun and excitement of the old spelling bee, which sharpened the wits and aroused the desire to spell down the class. The board represents the town. The homes 4in the corners are separated by broad fields. In the center of the town is the little red school house. Roads'lead to the school lhouse yard from each of the homes.

The families of scholars start out from their homes to go around t-he school house to the right and return home. lVhen two people play, each has four scholars in his family; Three people have three scholars each. Four people will have two scholars each (or three or four may be used if desired.) p

The live spelling blocks each have two vowels, so that each letter of the alphabet occurs once and the vowels, A, E, I and O, twice. A sixth block, having an eX-tra C', L, l?, R, S and T, may be used when a greater variety of possible words is desired.

Start-Each player places all of hisl scholars in the home on his right and then draws a block at random. The player drawing the block bearing the letter Z gallres all the blocks and throws them in his IPZag/.-If he is able to spell any word or words with any of the letters on the top faces `of the blocks (notusing any ofthe letters twice), he callsit out and moves one of his scholars one space for each letter used. For instance, Truce gives five spaces. Boy and In give five space-s. Tem A and I give five spaces. A second throw isy allowed when five points are made on iirst throw. When a player moves his scholar or gives up, the next player on the left must take the blocks at once and throw them in his field.

Moorea-Scholars may be moved straight or diagonally ahead from square to square in the yard. One scholar may not .jump over another, but may pass around if yard or on the-ste an adjacent space is vacant. A scholar may reenter his home only on maklng the exact number of pointsl required to reach it.

' must return home and start over again.

Tinta-If a player is slow in finding a word and does not give up, any opponent may begin to count out lou slowly, 5- 10-15', etc. If the player does not find a' wordbefore 100 1s called, his, turn is ended. yIf the opponent has seen a Word, he may call it out as soony as he reaches 100, and move his own scholar accordingly. If an opponent finds a word or words using more letters than those claimed or letters not used by a player, he counts out 5-10-15, etc., and'is entitled to the-extra points not used by't-he player, unless the player ind's a word or words of equal length before 100 is called.

Ew'm'a-An error in spelling, calling or calling attention to a supposed error, by

n mistake puts `a scholar back five spaces.

The person discovering an error is entitled Ato 'five points. Errors should not countunless agreed beforehand.

Blockades sometimes occur. Considerable skill is-required to bring the scholars safely around the yard. An opponents4 scholar on a safety yspace in a corner of the yard will prevent a scholar from leaving `or entering the home thus guarded. It is best to get the scholars out early in the ,game and keep possessionof safety spaces as much as possible, particularly'taking care to guard your own home. When all of a players scholars are blocked he loses his turn.

d Partners may be played by four peo-v ple, two against two. The play and moves are the same as before, but one partner can help the other to find words. Two heads are better than one. This isa particularly good game for two children and two older peoplef What I claim is:

1. Game apparatus comprising a board having fields and spaced paths, a `set of' ve or more lettered pieces for throwing on the fields, each having two vowels and four consonants, the pair of vowels `on each piece being different from the pair of vowels on e-ach of the other pieces and counters for moving on the paths in accordance with the words spelled.

2. Game yapparatus comprisin aboard having spaced paths, a set of six lettered pieces for throwing lon the board,l five of said pieces having. two vowels each land four consonants, and the other piece havlng duplicate consonants, and counters for mov! ing on the paths in accordance with the words spelled.

3. Game apparatus comprising, a board having home spaces, fields and spaced paths,

a set of cubical pieces having different let-v ters on the different 'sides for throwing on the fields, the principal vowels and consinants occurring more than. once, and men for moving on the paths in accordance with the words spelled.

4. Came Aapparatus comprising a board having spaced paths, men for moving on the paths and five lettered pieces bearing respectively the letters A-I-F-G-L- R, E-O-H-J-P-V, I-Y-C-M- X-Z, A-O-B-Q-S-T, E-U-D- K-N-W.

Signed at New London Conn. this' third day of August 1906. e

RICHARD W.- MANSFIELD.

Witnesses:

SIDNEY H. MINER,

FRANK HOWARD. 

